Good evening and a huge welcome back to the show, I hope you’ve had a great day and you’re ready to kick back and relax with another episode of Brett’s old time radio show.
Hello, I’m Brett your host for this evening and welcome to my home in beautiful Lyme Bay where it’s lovely December night.
I hope it’s just as nice where you are.
You'll find all of my links at www.linktr.ee/brettsoldtimeradioshow
A huge thankyou for joining me once again for our regular late night visit to those dusty studio archives of Old Time radio shows right here at my home in the united kingdom.
Don’t forget I have an Instagram page and YouTube channel both called Brett’s old time radio show and I’d love it if you could follow me.
Feel free to send me some feedback on this and the other shows if you get a moment, brett@tourdate.co.uk
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – The Man with the Action-Packed Expense Account For over a decade, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar reigned as one of the greatest detective dramas of radio’s golden age, captivating audiences with thrilling investigations, sharp wit, and a unique storytelling style. From its debut in 1949 to its final broadcast in 1962, it followed the adventures of Johnny Dollar—America’s “fabulous freelance insurance investigator”—as he tackled high-stakes fraud, mysterious disappearances, and deadly deceptions, all while meticulously documenting his expenses.
Johnny wasn’t your typical gumshoe. He didn’t work for the police or a detective agency—his cases came straight from the world of insurance claims. Whether it was a suspicious death, a missing person, or a million-dollar con, Johnny took the case, traveling across the country—and sometimes around the world—armed with little more than his wits, a badge of credibility from his employer, and a knack for getting into trouble.
The show’s signature format set it apart. Each story was told through Johnny’s first-person narration as he recounted his cases via his expense account. Every episode was peppered with dry humor and clever scene transitions: “Item seven, $1.25 – Lunch. It should’ve been steak, but something about the guy across the table made me lose my appetite.” These little details gave Johnny a personality beyond the typical hardboiled detective—he was a man who could be tough when needed but was also introspective, sarcastic, and at times, deeply human.
Over its 12-year run, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar saw multiple actors bring the character to life. The early versions, played by Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, and John Lund, followed the standard private-eye formula. But the show hit its stride in 1955 when it was revived with Bob Bailey in the lead role. Under writer-director Jack Johnstone, the series adopted a serialized format, stretching cases across five gripping episodes each week. The extra time allowed for richer storytelling, deeper character development, and some of the finest radio drama ever produced. Fans widely regard Bailey’s portrayal as the definitive Johnny Dollar—equal parts tough, charming, and emotionally complex.
Despite format changes and cast shifts, Johnny Dollar remained a staple of CBS Radio until its final episode on September 30, 1962—marking the end of the golden age of radio drama. Though other shows would attempt to revive radio storytelling in the years that followed, Johnny Dollar’s final expense report closed the book on an era of entertainment unlike any other.
Even today, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar stands as a masterclass in detective fiction, blending action, intrigue, and a touch of humor with one unforgettable character at its center.
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